Is Jarryd Hayne a team player?

The Gus and Webby Show

Phil Gould and Andrew Webster on why Johnathan Thurston deserves to be rated as one of the greats and why the Roosters have a shot at back-to-back premiership wins.

While the matches have been a ratings success for the Nine Network, crowds have kept their distance from the grounds. The Bulldogs have been the unlucky to be the only club to host consecutive Thursday night games against traditionally big-drawing opponents. They attracted just 9877 people to their game against Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium last Thursday, while about 25,000 people are expected to be at the venue when they host South Sydney on Thursday night.

More than 43,000 people turned up when Canterbury and South Sydney last met at 4pm on Good Friday while more than 20,000 people watched the Tigers beat Canterbury six rounds ago on a Sunday afternoon. Less than 15,000 people watched South Sydney beat Brisbane when Thursday night football returned in round 23. Of the three highest rated premiership matches this year, two have been on Thursday nights.

Running on empty: Corey Thompson makes a break against the Tigers in a very sparsely populated ANZ Stadium. Photo: Getty Images

Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle said she would speak with the NRL about potential compensation. "Having received two Thursday nights at the back end of the season for two high revenues games we will be having some discussions with the NRL in relation to that," Castle said. "Whilst we've had some fantastic TV ratings on Thursday nights, which is fantastic for our sponsors. It is disappointing that the crowd will be below the 40,000 we would've got had the match been played on a Sunday."

Wet weather has plagued attendance levels too, with some clubs of the belief that Thursday night football is better suited to the beginning of the season, when daylight saving and warmer weather could entice more people to the game. ANZ Stadium held 27,782 people when South Sydney and the Roosters kicked off the season on a Thursday night.

An NRL spokesman said they had no intentions to provide any financial assistance. "The NRL does not propose paying compensation to any club in relation to Thursday night football," the spokesman said. "All clubs have received the benefit of the increased value of the broadcast contract – the grant has nearly doubled under the new deal. "This is distributed equally across all clubs in recognition of the fact that all clubs gain commercial benefits from particular schedule spots, and all also have less preferred schedule spots."

Penrith have had their own scheduling woes, hosting Monday night football four times this season with their crowds slumping. NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said there was no plan to alter the NRL's schedule. "I understand people will always debate the difference between crowds and ratings, and it's about finding that balance," Greenberg said. "We're contractually in the second year of a five-year deal and we've got great partnerships with Nine and the Fox networks."

You will now receive updates fromLeague HQ Newsletter

League HQ Newsletter

The Roosters will host South Sydney in the final Thursday night match of the season next week. Canterbury halfback Trent Hodkinson said he would have preferred to face South Sydney on another day. "Last week's [crowd] was disappointing," Hodkinson said. "It would've been better to be on a weekend to get more people there."